How to set printer default to Black and White in Windows?

To help manage printing expenses, it is recommended that documents be printed in Black & White whenever possible, with Color selected only when necessary. This can become tedious to switch to Black & White on every print job. Therefore, the rest of this article explains how to set the printing default mode to Black & White.

How to set printer default to Black and White in Windows?

Color printers are now widely used to meet the need for printed documents. When printing, users typically have three output options: Color, Auto Color, or Black & White. The cost per page varies significantly between a Color print versus Black & White print and depends on factors such as printer technology, manufacturer, and vendor contracts. In general, color printing can cost 10 to 20 times more per page than black-and-white printing. Selecting the appropriate print mode can help reduce printing costs while ensuring documents are produced in the format required.

By default, most printer drivers are configured to use either Full Color or Auto Color mode:

• Full Color prints every document as a color job, even when no visible color content is present.
• Auto Color analyzes each page and prints it as a color job if any color is detected - even as little as a single-color pixel. If no color is detected, the page is printed in black and white.
• Black & White prints all content using black toner only, regardless of any color elements within the document.

To help manage printing expenses, it is recommended that documents be printed in Black & White whenever possible, with Color selected only when necessary. This can become tedious to switch to Black & White on every print job. Therefore, the rest of this article explains how to set the printing default mode to Black & White.

Windows Print Settings

The nomenclature and location of the Black & White setting vary by manufacturer. To prevent repetition, the common Windows Settings navigation is listed first then the manufacturer specific settings are linked below.

1. Search for Settings; or Right-Click on the Start button and select Settings
2. Within the Setting Dialog window, Select Bluetooth & devices in the left menu pane.
3. In the right menu pane, Select Printers & scanners
4. Find the printer that you use.
5. Select Printing Preferences
6. Manufacturers
   • Canon
   • HP
   • Konica Minolta
   • Kyocera
   • Ricoh
   • Sharp
   • Toshiba
   • Xerox

Canon

1. Open Printing Preferences.
2. Select the Basic Settings tab.
3. Use the Color Mode: drop down menu
4. Select Black and White.
5. Click Apply and OK.

         

HP

1. Open Printing Preferences.
2. Select the Color tab.
3. Place a check in the box next to Print in Grayscale.
4. Select Black Only.
5. Click Apply and OK.

         

Konica Minolta

1. Open Printing Preferences.
2. Select the My Tab tab.
3. Use the Select Color drop down menu
4. Select Gray Scale.
5. Click Apply and OK.

         

Kyocera

1. Open Printing Preferences.
2. Select the Basic tab.
3. In the Color section, select Black.
4. Click Apply and OK.

         

Ricoh

1. Open Printing Preferences.
2. Select the My Tab tab.
3. Use the Select Color drop down menu
4. Select Gray Scale.
5. Click Apply and OK.

         

Sharp

1. Open Printing Preferences.
2. Select the My Tab tab.
3. Use the Select Color drop down menu
4. Select Gray Scale.
5. Click Apply and OK.

         

Toshiba

1. Open Printing Preferences.
2. Select the Basic tab.
3. Use the Color: drop down menu
4. Select Black and White.
5. Click Apply and OK.

         

Xerox

1. Open Printing Preferences.
2. Select the Printing Options tab.
3. Use the Xerox Black and White: drop down menu
4. Select On.
5. Click Apply and OK.